Quality grading



; Nov. l, 1932.

F. D. CHAPMAN 1,885,988

QUALITY GRADING Filed Oct. 13. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J A0 INVENIOR.

. cw dwfl M BY A TTORNEY.

F. D. CHAPMAN 1,885,988

QUALITY GRADING Filed Oct. 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mam .4

Nov. 1, 1932.

IN V EN TOR. wan;

A TTORNEY.

I BY

Fatented Nov. l, 1932 assaess 'ATENT @FFICE EBANKJ). CHAPMAN, BERLIN, WISCONSIN QUALITY GRADING Application filed October 13, 1930. Serial No. 488,216.

This invention relates in general to improvements in the art of separating granular material into grades of different specific gravity, and relates more specifically to an improved process of and apparatus for separating granular edible substances such as peas, beans, berries or the like, into quality grades.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved process of grading materials such as granular edible substances, as to specific gravity or quality.

Another general object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient apparatus for 5 effecting commercial exploitation of the improved process.

It has heretofore been proposed as shown and described in my prior, applications Ser. No. 334,001, filed January 21, 1929, patented December 8, 1931No. 1,835,634 and Ser. No. 413,507, filed December 12, 1929, to,separate edible granules such as peas, beans, berries or the like into desirable quality grades, with the aid of superimposed-streams of liquid such as brine having predetermined density. In theseprior applications and in the process which has been successfully and extensively exploited thereunder, the peas are admitted to the relatively slow moving intermediate stream of the liquid, and are permitted to remain therein for a sufli'cient length of time to insure rising of the lighter peas and sinking of the heavier peas into the upper and lower adjoining streams respectively, and provision is also made for varying the separated qualitieswithin certain limits.

The present invention contemplates imrovements in the methods and apparatus orming the subject of said prior applications, and some of the novel features of separating edible granules with the aid of superimposed streams of liquid having predetermined density, disclosed but not specifically claimed herein, form the subject of these copending applications.

In accordance with the present improvement, the mixed peasorother granules which are to be graded, are delivered into one end of a relatively, slow moving stream, and the quality grades are subsequently discharged the" mixed ,peas through other separators either of the type shown herein.

Another specific object of the invention is 'to provide various improvements in the details of construction of quality graders or separators, which may be applied to qualitygraders ofany type, and one of these improvements involves means for efi'ecting separation of the peas from the grading liquid.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, will appear from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several steps of the improved'method of quality separation, and of the details of construction of one form of apparatus for effecting commercial exploitation thereof, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in.which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through an improved quality grader,- the section being taken longitudinally through the conduit for discharging the floating granules.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the improved quality grader shown in section in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a part sectional end view of the quality grader shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the adjusting plate at the discharge opening of the hopper being shown in its maximum elevated position. I 1 1 Fig.4 is a transverse section through the separating receptacle or tank of Fig. 1, the section being taken along the line 4-4 looking in the direction of the arrows, and the adjusting plate at the discharge of the supply mo hopper being shown in its maximum elevated position.

For the sake of clearness, certain relatively limited terms will'be employed in this description, but the use of these terms is not to be considered an intentional limitation in the scope of the present invention. By floaters it is intended to designate any material having such specific gravity that it will float when immersed in brine or other, liquid such as is used as a separating medium. By sinkers it is intended to designate any material having such specific gravity that it will sink when immersed in brine or other liquid such as used as a separating medium. The term peas is intended to cover any granular edible material such as green peas, beans, berries, or the like.

The improved quality grader shown in the drawings by way of illustration, comprises in general a main frame 7 upon which is supported a horizontally elongated separating tank 8 having at one end thereof a granular material supplyhopper 9, and at its opposite end a pair of laterally adjacent discharge chutes 10, 17, having bottoms formed of laterally spaced bars. The portion of the tank 8 directly adjacent to the supply hopper 9 is provided with a relatively long separating chamber 12 having relatively large cross sectional area. The supply hopper 9 is adapted to deliver the granular material into one end of the chamber 12, and has an adjustable dis charge portion for effecting delivery of the granular material into the chamber 12 at various distances beneath the level of the liquid in this chamber. The end of the chamber 12 remote from the hopper 9 communicates with an upper conduit 14 and with a lower conduit 15, the discharge end of the lower conduit 15 being elevated to approximately the level of the discharge end of the conduit 14, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower conduit 15 communicates with the chamber 12 through an opening 16, and a longitudinally adjustable plate 13 associated with the bottom of the conduit 14 may be slid horizontally over the opening 16 to vary the effective length of the separating chamber 12.

The discharge end of the upper conduit 14 is provided with an adjustable wier 11 for effecting variation in the velocity of flow of liquid through the conduit 14, prior to delivery thereof to the adjacent discharge chute 10 which communicates with the conduit 14. The discharge portion of the lower conduit 15 is likewise provided with an adjustable wier 19 for efi'ecting variation in the velocity of flow of li uid through the conduit 15, prior to delivery thereof to the adjacent discharge chute 17. The discharge chutes 10, 17 are provided. with grid bottoms, and are supported by means of a partition 17, in order to permit spouting of the separated grades to any desired place. The grid bars of the grids constituting the bottoms of the chutes 10, 17 are provided with trian ular drip plates 18, as shown in Fig. 1, the unction of these plates being to prevent the liquid from flowing downwardly along the rid bars with the separated granular material which rolls downwardly along the bars.

Located beneath the chutes 1O, 17 is a brine or liquid receiving tank 20, which receives the liquid which is separated from the granular material by the grid bottom of the chutes, and which has a transverse partition 21 therein provided with an opening 21 near the bottom of the tank 20. The tank 20 is also supported by the frame 7 and has a discharge pipe 25 at the lower portion thereof remote from the inlet end of the tank. The discharge pipe 25 communicates with the lower portion of a vertical cylindrical conduit 22 which has an outlet 23 at the top thereofcommunicating with the separating chamber 12 through a removable screen 24, directly in advance of the hopper 9. Located within the conduit 22 is a rotary shaft 26 which carries a screw pump 27, and the conduit 22 is provided with radial vanes 27 at the discharge side of the screw pump 27, the function of which is to prevent swirling of the liquid delivered from the pump through the conduit 22 and through the outlet 23 to the separating chamber. The upper extremity of the drive shaft 26 is connected by means of bevel gearing 29 to a countershaft 28 to which a pulley 30 is secured. Rotary motion may be transmitted to the pulley 30 by means of a driving belt 31 in the well known manner.

During normal operation of the improved quality grader while efi'ecting commercial exploitation of the improved process, the mixed peas are delivered in bulk into the supply hopper 9 and gravitate into the chamber 12 beneath the level of the liquid in this chamber. The pump 27 is being operated to produce a continuous circulation of brine through the conduit 22 and through the screen 24 into the separating chamber 12. Due to the relatively large cross section of the chamber '12, the liquid is constantly advanced quite slowly toward the discharge conduit 14, 15 thus permitting the floaters to separate from the sinkers constituting the mixture of peas admitted through the hopper 9, as the peas advance toward the discharge end of the chamber 12. When the edge of the plate 13 is reached the separated grades designated herein as floaters and sinkers, are positively segregated, the former grade passing through the conduit 14 and over the wier 11, and the latterv grade passing through the conduit 15 and over the wier 19. As the mixtures of peas and brine are delivered into the chutes 10, 17, the peas are separated from the brine and roll down the grid bottoms of the chutes,

resaese while the brine is returned to the tank 20 for subsequent use.

Depending upon the setting of the wiers 11, 19 the velocity of flow in either, the conduit 1% or the conduit 15 may be varied so as to cause the balanced peas remaining in the medial portion of the chamber 12 at the discharge end thereof, to accept either the conduit 1 1 or the conduit 15 as an outlet, thus permitting variationin the characteristics of the separated grades. By sliding theplate 13 toward or away from the hopper 9 the effective length of the separating chamber 12 may'readily be varied, thus also altering the characteristics of the separated grades. By adjusting the plate at the bottom of the hopper 9, the mixture of peas may be introduced into the liquid within the separating chamber 12, either above or beneath the liquid level any desired amount, thus also aflecting the quality grading. Upon entering the tank 20, the separated brine is carried toward the partition 21 and this partition functions as a barrier to prevent return of pods and thistle buds or other floating undesirable substances, to the separatingtank 12 by the pump 27.

The pump 27 receives only the relatively pure brine which passes through the lower opening 21 in the partition 21, and constantly recirculates the liquid through the separator.

Fromthe foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved method of quality grading, and improved apparatus for eflecting commercial exploitation of such method, both the method and apparatus being extremely simple and effective. The characteristics of the quality grades may be readily varied by adjusting the wiers 11, 19, the plate 13, and the plate at the discharge of the hopper 9,'or by varying the density of the brine. During normal operation the density of the brine should be maintained relatively constant by the addition of fresh brine from time ,to time. The improved apparatus permits accurate grading as to quality, especially with reference to the balanced peas which remain in suspen- SlOl'l between the floaters and sinkers at the end of the separating chamber 12, and by controlling the speed of the pump 27, so as to produce proper velocity of the brine within the separating chamber 12, extremely ac curate gradingis made possible.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact steps of the method herein described or to the precise details of construction of the apparatus, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The method of gradingpeas or the like, which comprises, producing a horizontally flowing stream of liquid, introducing peas of mixed quality into one portion of the stream and maintaining the same therein for a sutfi cient length of time to permit rising of the floaters and sinking of the others, subsequently dividing the stream into upper and lower portions to segregate the floaters and sinkers from each other, and overflowing the stream divisions carrying the separated materials at diflerent levels adjusted to maintain the necessary speeds of flow to carry the separatedegnaterials.

2. The method of grading peas or the like, which comprises, producing a horizontally flowing stream of liquid, introducing peas of mixed quality into one portion of the stream beneaththeupper level thereof and maintaining the same within the stream for a suflicient length of time to permit rising of the floaters and sinking of the others, subsequently dividing the stream into upper and lower portions to segregate the floaters and sinkers from each other, and overflowing the stream divisions carrying the separated materials at diflerent levels adjusted to maintain the velocities of flow necessary to carry ofl the separated materials.

3. The method'of grading peas or the like, which comprises, producing a horizontally flowing stream of liquid, introducing peas of mixed quality into one portion of the stream and maintaining the same therein for a sufllcient length of time to permit rising of the floaters and sinking of the others, subsequently dividing the stream into upper and lower portions to segregate the floaters and sinkers from each other, overflowing the stream divisions carrying the separated materials at different levels adjusted to maintain the necessary speeds of flow to carry the separated materials, and finally separating the floaters and sinkers from the upper and lower stream portions respectively.

4. The method of grading peas or the like, I

which comprises, producing a horizontally fiowing'stream of liquid, introducing peas of the separated materials, and finally separating the floatei's and sinkers from the upper and lower stream portions respectively.

5. The method of grading peas or the like, which comprises, producing a horizontally flowing stream of liquid, introducing peas of mixed quality into one portion of the stream,

beneath the upper-level thereof and main 'end of said stream into two portions containtaining the same within the stream for a suflicient lengtlfof time to permit rising of the floaters and sinking of the others, elevating the lower stream portion to approximately the level of said upper stream portion, overflowing the material transporting stream divisions at different levels adjusted to maintain the velocities of flow necessary to carry off the separated materials, and finally separating the segregated grades from said stream portions.

6. In combination, a receptacle forming a separating chamber, means for producing a horizontal stream of liquid in said chamber,

' means for admitting mixed peas to one portion of said stream beneath the upper level thereof, means for varying the height of the plane of admission, means for segregating the floaters and sinkers at another portion of said stream remote from said admission means, and means for independently varying the overflow discharge level of said stream portions.

7. In combination, a receptacle forming a se arating chamber, means for varying the e ective length of said chamber, means for producing a horizontal stream of liquid in said chamber, means for admitting mixed peas to one portion of said stream below the upper level thereof, means for varying the height of the plane of admission, means for segregating the floaters and sinkers at anot er portion of said stream remote from said admission means, and means for independently varying the overflow discharge level of said stream portions.

8. In combination, a receptacle forming a separating chamber, means for producing a horizontal stream of liquid in said chamber, means for varying the level of said stream, means for admitting mixed peas to one portion of said stream, means for segregating the floaters and sinkers at an end portion of said stream remote from said admission means,

' and means" for independently varying the overflow discharge levels of said portions.

9. In combination, a receptacle forming a separating chamber, means for producing a horizontal stream of liquid in said chamber, means for admitting mixed peas to one portion of said stream, means for segregating the ing the floaters and sinkers respectively, and means for independently varying the level of the dischargeof said portions.

10. In combination, a receptacle forming a separating chamber means for producing a horizontal stream oi liquid in said chamber, means for varyin the effective length of said chamber, means or admitting mixed peas to one portion of said stream, means for segregating the end of said stream into two por-' tions containing the floaters and sinkers re spectively, and means for independently varying the level of the discharge of said portions. 

